North America
Being that this is my home continent, I've actually had the great fortune of visiting 9 countries and 38 states in the US. From what I've experienced in the country, the natural beauty coupled with amazing architecture, it's a pretty great continent to call home. Here are some of my favorite places.
Oregon | Jasper/Banff | Alaska | New York | California | Colorado/Utah | Central America
Oregon
In 2017 I’ve had the good fortune to make Bend, Oregon my home and it’s been a constant stream of adventures ever since. Here are a few of my favorite places.
If you are looking for nature and a place to experience some of the most beautiful landscapes that the Pacific North West has to offer, Bend, Oregon and the surrounding area could be it! From miles of amazing hikes and rock climbing through Smith Rock State Park to ridiculously epic alpine lakes, it really has all you could ever want. Camping at Devil’s Lake about 30 minutes outside of Bend might be one of my favorite decisions I’ve made. It may be one of the bluest, coldest alpine lakes I’ve been to with more stars than you can count. Be sure when you head to Oregon to chat up the locals, because they recommended a seriously epic hike up to Broken Top Mountain and checking out No Name Lake. It didn’t disappoint! Views for days with the 3 Sisters, and even Mt Hood in the distance.
The latest Oregon Wonder I’ve managed to experience was Crater Lake and it was pretty cool in its own right, but I have to say, Diamond Lake may have overshadowed it a bit. Crater Lake is epic in its size and shear presence, but Diamond Lake has the appeal of being able to really be immersed in its beauty. From lakeside camping with fire pits to paddle boarding, kayaking and mountain biking…it might be my favorite.
One final adventure that really exceeded my expectations was that staying in a Fire Lookout at Drakes Peak right past the boarder of California. Being a “bucket list” experience we were stoked to drive up 45 minutes to the highest mountain in the area, and found ourselves in this epic glass “house” amongst the peaks. If you’ve never had the chance to experience a night in a Fire Lookout, I highly recommend it. The serenity, views and of course stars are pretty unparalleled.
Overall, Oregon you never cease to inspire and amaze and I can’t wait to see what the years have in store going forward! Stay tuned.
Jasper/Banff
It’s been on my bucket list to go to Lake Louise since college, and I decided that my 34th birthday was the time to check it off my list….however, Lake Louise was surrounded by so much beauty, I needed to make sure I planned enough time to explore it all, including backpacking the Skyline Trail.
When I booked this adventure with my friend Casandra, I knew that September would be a volatile month in Jasper, but I never would have guessed that meant 2 feet of snow! Setting out on our 3 day/2 night backpacking adventure we had heard that it had been snowing over the past few days, but I don’t think we were close to mentally prepared for just how much snow there was. The first day was beautiful being surrounded with lakes, trees, mountains and heaps of bear scat! Though we never actually saw a bear, their presence was quite known throughout our trek. Sure glad we had the bear spray! (Thanks Mike!)
It started snowing at the end of our first day off and on throughout the night….which meant the trail was being covered by another 15 inches of fresh snow by morning. Thank goodness we had some other guys we met on the trail who took off before us and lead the way, (literally with their foot prints). We ended up going about 3 miles out of the way hiking in serious snow and although the exhaustion was pretty extensive, the beauty was indescribable. Everything was white. It took my breath away. When we got to the ½ way mark for the day, another huge storm was coming in and we decided it was in our best interest to bail out to the lower campsite and head off the trail from there. Although we didn’t make the full skyline trail, our alternative route was pretty spectacular all the same.
After the 3-day trek, and our legs feeling like gummies, we treated ourselves to a night at the Chateau Lake Louise for a little pampering. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake might be 2 of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, as is all of Banff and Jasper. It’s truly awe inspiring with natural beauty and I can’t wait to go back!
Alaska
When I graduated college, my parents decided they were going to treat themselves to an amazing 3-month RV trip through Alaska. Not wanting to feel left out, it’s been on my list ever since. Well I was fortunate enough to have my best friend’s family welcome me as one of their own on their breathtaking cruise through Alaska in 2014.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to swing it, but I knew that this opportunity was going to be a once in a lifetime trip and I couldn’t pass it up. Flying into Vancouver, we took off in the stunning Princess Cruise Ship and headed north. It was my first time on a cruise and it was packed with entertainment everywhere! From pools and hot tubs, to educational seminars, to ping pong tournaments, movies, and let’s not forget the constant buffets! But for me the magic happened when we got off the boat and were able to explore the amazing little towns and take hikes, kayak by glaciers, visit local breweries, and witness some of the most beautiful nature and wildlife I’ve ever seen. From moose to elk, bald eagles to whales, it was like being in a natural game reserve.
I have to say one of my highlights actually was on the boat when we were surrounded by glaciers being mirrored back from the glass-like water on a bluebird day. Even the staff who make this tour dozens of times a year said they have never seen a day that spectacular. Witnessing something so stunning puts everything into perspective.
In addition to the cruise we added on the land tour through Denali and took one of the coolest trains I’ve ever been on with a full glass top, which was imperative to take in the magnitude of the mountains rivers, lakes, forests that we passed by. Overall I not only gained another amazing family with the Heimsoth’s, but this trip fueled me to continue to grow my wonder for the just how awe-inspiring this world can be!
New York
It’s been said that everyone should live on either coast for at least 1 year of their lives… well growing up in Tahoe I took that seriously and spend an amazing 7 years in Manhattan, leaving the mountains for the Urban Jungle.
During my time there I wanted to make sure I experienced everything this amazing city had to offer, and to be honest, I couldn’t possibly come close. There is no place I’ve been in the world that has the energy, magic, and overall spirit that NYC possesses…and when you live there a piece of it always stays with you. To refuel that spark I’ve been able to head back every year since I left in 2011. Of course there are always my favorite places to visit, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, The Met, biking up the West Coast Highway….but there is constantly something new that I discover every time I go back that keeps this city from ever feeling like I’ve “Been there. Done that.” If you haven’t been make a point to experience arguably the best city in the world!
California
Growing up in South Lake Tahoe, California is my home state and I couldn’t be more proud. This state encompasses everything from amazing mountain landscapes, to breathtaking beaches, to iconic bridges that are the staple of the state. Having moved back to California, settling in San Francisco for the past 3 years, I’ve really taken advantage of what this epic state has to offer.
I’ve made the most of my time in Cali, when it comes to exploring, hiking, backpacking and just plain sightseeing. I’ve had back packing adventures through the Trinity Alps up north experiencing some of the most epic alpine lakes I’ve ever seen to the iconic Yosemite. With a childhood spent camping and adventure seeking throughout California and beyond, it’s no wonder I have the bug to see and explore as much as I can. Below you’ll find just a taste of some the magical adventures I’ve tapped into over the years, but there is always so much more to explore!
See adventures spanning Trinity Alps, Mammoth Lakes, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Big Sur and Yosemite below.
Colorado/Utah
Seeing that I was born on skis practically, learning when I was 2, I’ve always had a pull towards the mountains and in 2014 I was stoked to be able to hit the crazy storms that were encompassing the mountains a few states over in Colorado and Utah.
It was the most amount of snow Vail had seen in 3 years and I wasn’t about to miss it, so I booked a flight and got a chance to shed the powder in Vail and Breckenridge for 4 days. It was spectacular! Then the following week jumped on a plane to Utah with my bestie Jill and got to explore the Canyons and Park City. It was just what I needed to remember how much the snow makes me smile!
Central America
I’ve had the great fortune of experiencing Honduras twice as well as Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The first time in Honduras I went out with 2 amazing girl friends to get advanced open water scuba certified on the island of Utila, and it was amazing! The second time I was in Central America, I got to travel with friends by car through Nicaragua into Costa Rica, camping on the beaches and cooking from the tailgate of a Range Rover for 2 weeks.
Heading out to Utila in 2011, we made our way to Alton's Dive Center where over the course of 7 days we were privy to perfect weather, 9 amazing dives, beautiful array of fish, turtles, a sunken ship, and one sought after Whale Shark, which proved to be the coveted viewing of the trip. We were also fortunate to have the ability to take a day tour out to the island of Cayos Cochinos with the crew, which was about an hour away by boat. To break up the trek we had two dives in the surreal reef that was home to the some of the most amazing species of fish. It was truly breathtaking. And as a snack in route to the island, we had fresh ceviche that was caught about 20 minutes before we mowed it down. It was delicious. Then we pulled in to the Blue Lagoon of islands for lunch. I've never seen water so clear and blue, it was surreal. We were greeted by the locals with coconuts filled with rum and mouthwatering fish fillets for lunch. Amazing!
The second time in 2012 my adventure started in Managua, Nicaragua where I walked off the plane and was immediately welcomed with an overwhelming wave of heat and humidity, (which will last the whole trip) along with my friends Emily, Cesar and Danni and their seriously outfitted Range Rover. For a week we camped on private beaches, took boat rides through the channels and private islands with ridiculous homes and adorable monkeys in Granada, Nicaragua, and watched some surfing in San Juan del Sur, and four wheeled it up to the surfers beach staying at Camping Matildas, then it was off to Costa Rica.
We ended up spending our last few nights in the awesome beach town Playa Taramindo, sipping on sangria, playing in the ocean and lounging in the sun. Although it was hot and sticky most of the vacation, it was beautiful and an amazing beach experience.